A Sydney university student says his leg was broken during what he describes as a violent scuffle with police at a protest at Sydney university this morning.
Wynand van der Woude says he was participating in a picket line to protest against university cuts to staff wages and conditions.
Speaking from the emergency department at Sydney's Prince of Wales hospital, he gave this account of what happened.
"It was a peaceful picket line. Police then formed up and charged us from two directions and students and staff were crushed in between each other as police pushed forward," he said.
"The line held so we actually won that particular battle but a lot of students were injured. I broke my leg and am just about to go into surgery a little bit later."
The police service says it is looking into the claims but has made no further comment at this stage.
This morning students and staff clashed with police outside Sydney University during the protest.
About 30 protesters, most who appeared to be students, clashed with police as they tried to force back the picket line stopping vehicles from entering the university, in the city's inner west.
Tensions boiled over when police tried to force protesters to the side of the road to let a van pass through the gates.
But protesters then sat down on the road and the driver gave up and left.
Others there also complained of police heavy-handedness.
Tom Raue says he was not doing anything wrong when a police officer put him in a headlock.
"I was grabbed by the neck, it would be hard to say but maybe for a minute, I felt like I was going to pass out," he said.
"It was very confronting and I was very shaken up for a while afterwards.
"I'm alright now, I've got a few scrapes and bruises but I'm ok."
The 24-hour strike was called after talks between the public sector union and university broke down over a new workplace agreement.
Five people were arrested after they occupied a chemistry building.
Today's strike at Sydney University coincides with a national day of protest called by the National Tertiary Education Union against the Federal Government's Gonski reforms.
The union is opposing $2.3billion in cuts for the sector.
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